New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-27
TIE CASE or THE DOG.

Mayor Hewitt does not like dogs because they
have disturbed his rest but principally 1t appears,
because OF conditions so sensitive that compare
lively slight noises irritatc him greatly. The tone
OF his late epstolay remarks about DOES. however
strikes us rs scarcely excusable on the ground
OF insomnia for Il implies real, active and deep
seated hatred Of one of the most useful, amiable,
faithful and companionablc OF animals, and also
one OF the most intelligent. "1he more l see oil
men,, said Madame de Stael, "the more admire
dogs This was not exactly genial observation,
but IL embodies certain amount OF by no means
aatterin2 truth As between a good dog and q
bad man the balance is so heavily on the side OF
the former that there can be no dispute about it ;
and then how larse the percentage oil good DOGS
is compared to that Of good men. The natural
tendency of the dog Is toward bonefccnce Left
to himself and not thwated in ms normal de-
vclopment. he becomes guide, philosopher and
friend and his In the latter role is rhenome
nal Mele human friends take offence, grow cold
or envious, or sour. and drop away, often when
they are most warlcd But nobody ever heard
OF n dog desciLing his master because the latter
was unfortunate.
Yet though tho dog abounds in cxcellenccs
thou the caIciu study Of his virtues is liberal
education though he presents TO a greedy and sell
absorbed world the most beautiful examples OIL
selfsacrifce dsintcrestcdncss loyalty and patient
endurance. he does not secure anything like gcner
GUS treatment c nsidcr with what contumely
no is used in this great city. systematically
suspected Of tendency to hydrophobia which nire
times in ten l. a mere phantom con.ured up Dy oho
craven fears OF pOltro0ns and ignoramuseS tors
mentcd with barbarous and even brutal muzzl'S
which make his lille a misery at The most tryihS
season of the year; he is even grudged the POOR
s,,,ff, nj t.ban rltt1 cd
and is srol<cn Of by the head of our municipal
government in a manner which would he less than
humane IL vermin were under consideration Frank
~ Mr. Hewitt owes the dogs an apology. He was
NOT called upon 10 say what he did
rerarding the poor friendly creatures. lie should
have reflected moreover that il sometimes dogs
do make unseemy noises at night, IL the spectacle
Of tho full moon exercises an occult influence
upon their nervous systems, or recalls "a vanished
canine past full OF mournful memories, they would
at least not offend human ears by their me ancholy
outpourings they not in state OF ser' itudc
To man. and therefore incapable OF seeking the
seclusion which their periodical addresses to the
moon require
Mr.. Hewitt in his ungoverned irritability has
said that he would be pleased II all the dogs In
the city could be killed. This was cruel thing
10 say. and coming from the Mayor IL was calculated
to stimulate inhumanity in others. As moreover
there is no lawful provision Tor tho indiscrlmnate
slaughter OF dogs. IL had the air OF suggest NJ
an act of lawlessncss. In truth what is needed is
not less freedom for our canine friends, but moro.
A benghted prejudice, an unworthy apprehension,
has discredted dogs among US Men will take
| into their confidence ali sorts of aldermen and
bank presidents and cashiers and young Napoleons
OF finance and other doubtful characters without
Hesitation; but the noble dog, who neither plays